Spring, rebound control, and strain equalizer



A. M. PILZ Jan. 28, 1930.

SPRING, REBOUND CONTROL, AND STRAIN EQUALIZER Filed NOV. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTOR N EY SPRING, REBOUND CONTROL, AND STRAIN EQUALIZER Filed Nov. 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 %MM-Z JZ INVENTOR 1Q ai ATTO R N EY Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES ALFRED M. PILZ, OF MIDWEST, WYOMING SPRING, REBOUND CONTROL, AND STRAIN EQUALIZER Application filed November 4, 1927.

The object of this invention is to provide a combined device of the character indicated in the title and one in which upper and lower spring leaves are formed with curved cutaway portions and intervening projections of the kind shown in the drawings, rollers or other suitable elements being mounted between the leaves and contacting with the surfaces of the curved portions, so that a particular form of hearing will be provided suit able for use with springs having any desired number of leaves.

A further object is to provide particular end mounting means between the leaves.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming part of this appli cation,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, but

showing an axle of a motor car or other vehicle in section, and showing that portion of the leaves on one side of the axle, with asso ciated elements referred to below.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figare 1..

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing another form in which the leaves are separated by a continuous element having enlargements or balls thereon adapted to cooperate with the wave-like or corrugated portions of the leaves of the spring.

Figures 4. and 5 show a modified form in plan and vertical section.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig ure 5.

The leaf 10 of the spring is suspended by shackle 1 from the frame element 2, and the leaf 11 operates between side plates, one of which is designated 3, these plates being slotted at 4 for the accommodation of pins 5, the

pins being carried by the lower leaf. A slidable member 6 bears on leaf 11, and is held resiliently by spring 7, the effect of which may be varied by adjusting screw or other suitable element designated 8, this device Serial No. 231,080.

being threaded thru a transverse portion which connects the side plate 3, at the point 9.

The upper and lower leaves 10 and 11 extend on opposite sides of the housing 12 of axle 13, and are secured by U-strap 14 engaging a tie member 15, spacing means 16 being provided when needed.

The leaves 10 and 11 are recessed or out out to provide curved portions 18 of the form illustrated, with intervening shoulders or projections 19 which may be curved on one side and straight or curved on the other, and rollers, balls, or other elements 20, shown in section in Figure 2 and in end elevation in Figure 1, are positioned between the leaves, and are adapted to cooperate with the curved portions just described. The surfaces of the leaves may present a substantially continuous undulating effect. During the flexing of the spring as a whole, as on the rebound of the vehicle, the upper leaf becomes longer than the lower leaf, or rather its outer end tends to move outwardly, and the rollers or other elements 20 ride over the curved surfaces, for the purpose of taking up or equal 5 izingthe strains and making the action of the spring more satisfactory than could otherwise be the case. The movement of the elements 10, 11 and'20, is shown by the dotted line position of Figure 1, and Figure 2 shows that theelements 20, if of the form of Figure 1, may be mounted between side elements such In the modification of Figure 3 the balls or enlargements 25 are connected in a continuous series by reduced portions 26, and the leaves 10 and 11 are corrugated, the intervening elements just referred to being resilient and serving the purpose of the separate, elements 20 of Figure 1. i i

In Figure 5 the upper and lower spring leaves are designated 10 and 11, and are surrounded by strap 28, the element 1O having extensions 29, and the springs having concave recesses 30 and 31 receiving therebetween a head 32 carried by intermediate leaf 33. A U-shaped spring 36 is secured to the leaves at the points 34, 35, and relative move mentis permitted between the recessed ends of the leaves and the head or other element 32-. Bar 28' connects the ends of strap 28.

What is claimed is l. A vehicle spring, comprising a plurality of leaves cutaway to provide oppositely located recesses, the recessed portions of each leaf providing a continuous undulating effect, extending longitudinally, and elements having curved surfaces positioned within the recesses and movable over the curved portions of the recesses.

2. A vehicle spring, comprising a plurality of leaves cutaway to provide oppositely located recesses, elements having curved surfaces positioned within the recesses and movable over the surface portions of the recesses, and means connecting the outer ends of the leaves and permitting relative longitudinal movement thereof and movement to- 29 Ward and away from each other.

3. In a vehicle spring, a plurality of leaves having oppositely located recesses and intervening projecting portions each provided with a curved wall and a diverging wall, the curved walls of opposite recesses being spaced longitudinally of the leaves, and elements positioned in the recesses for engaging the walls thereof and modifying the flexing action of the leaves with reference to each other.

:10 4. In a vehicle spring, a plurality of leaves having oppositely located recesses and intervening projecting portions each provided with a curved wall and a diverging wall, the curved walls of opposite recesses being spaced longitudinally of the leaves, and elements mounted for rotation on transverse axes positioned in the recesses for engaging the walls thereof and modifying the flexing action of the leaves with reference to each other.

5. In a vehicle spring, a plurality of leaves having oppositely located recesses and intervening projecting portions each provided with a curved wall, the curved walls of opposite recesses being spaced longitudinally of the leaves, and elements connected in a series and positioned in the recesses for engaging the walls thereof and modifying the flexing action of the leaves with reference to each other. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALFRED M. PILZ. 

